All smokers are aware that smoking is hazardous to their health. When they think of quitting two fears emerge in them. The fear of withdrawal symptoms and the fear of weight gain. In recent years a huge progress has been made in smoking cessation treatment. Acomplia (Rimonabant) a prescription drug, developed and manufactured by French pharmaceutical company Sanofi – Aventis, approved for treating obesity has shown astonishing results in treating nicotine dependency.
Since its approval in 2006 by European Commission as anti-obesity drug, this revolutionary drug has been constantly surprising us. Studies conducted on Acomplia (Rimonabant) have shown, that smokers who quit smoking while using this drug, quit more easily and with no weight gain.
Acomplia directly effects cannabinoid receptors that control food and nicotine consumption. Prolonged nicotine consumption over-stimulates receptors and creates imbalance. Since Acomplia (Rimonabant) blocks cannabinoid receptors from receiving nicotine signals, it in fact restores balance and reduces reliance on tobacco.
Despite favorable findings in treating smoking cessation, neither U.S. Food and Drug Administration or European Medicines Agency has approved Acomplia (Rimonabant) as nicotine dependency treatment.